NewsBite

Advertisement

Aperitivo hour, vodka pasta and ’70s Brooklyn vibes flow at this new Northern Beaches pizza joint

Enjoy old school service and pizzas hand-stretched to order at little laneway restaurant, Pocket Pizza.

Bianca Hrovat
Bianca Hrovat

Photo: Supplied

Pocket Pizza has opened its third outpost at Avalon Beach, as sales figures suggest a sustained appetite for mid-priced, weekday meals on the Northern Beaches.

The small pizza chain, founded by friends Ben Pichon and Dylan Eisenhut in 2015, has established a reputation for quality hand-stretched pizzas ($22-30), accessible opening hours (until 10pm Monday to Friday) and a ’70s Brooklyn aesthetic.

Their newest location is hidden down a little laneway: a small 20-seat restaurant featuring dark wood panel and red leather booths, vintage posters and lit candles flickering across white paper doilies.

Pocket Pizza has opened its Avalon store.
Pocket Pizza has opened its Avalon store.Supplied
Advertisement

Come September, Eisenhut hopes to bring the party outdoors into the laneway, with an aperitivo hour under the stars. For now, diners can take a seat at the bar and take advantage of $10 spritzes and negronis from 4pm, Friday to Sunday.

There’s also a selection of Australian wines (mostly of the natural variety – think brands like Yokel from Swan Valley, WA), amaros and American whisky behind the retro bar.

Despite the rising cost of living, Eisenhut says that Pocket Pizza has seen sales grow by up to 20 per cent at their Manly and Brookvale locations. Monday nights are particularly busy, attracting up to 400 orders each week.

Photo: Supplied

“I’m close with a lot of other people in the industry and we talk a lot about what has been happening in the economy,” Eisenhut says.

Advertisement

“But we’re big believers in over delivering for the price point. We put a lot of time and effort into our dough, we make it all ourselves by hand, and we stretch the pizzas to order.

“We invest heavily in quality small goods, like fior di latte from Vannella [in Marrickville].”

Photo: Supplied

There’s a long list of antipasto options on the menu, including beef carpaccio ($20), cacio e pepe arancini ($15) and calamari fritti ($21). Pizzas run the gamut from simple margheritas ($24) and four cheese ($27), through to more adventurous options such as the Netflix and Chill (tomato, fior di latte, ’nduja, ricotta, salami and honey, $29) and the Lamborghini (tomato, fior di latte, lamb sausage, eggplant and goats cheese, $28).

Each pizza is delivered by a member of staff to ensure it’s treated with care, and Eisenhut promises to take orders no matter how close to closing time.

Advertisement

“We aren’t the cheapest pizza place around but we want people to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth, with dimly lit candles, good tunes and a full feed,” he says.

pocketpizza.com.au

Continue this series

Sydney hit list August 2023: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now
Up next
Fabbrica’s deli sandwich will be available at the Rozelle bread shop.

After years flatlining, an inner west pocket is riding a wave of new eateries (including a second Fabbrica spin-off)

After a series of closures, things are coming up roses in Rozelle-Balmain with a crop of new venues set to open.

B.S. Pasta Palace.

B.S. Pasta Palace is a freewheeling Surry Hills Italian joint with New York city DNA

Spaghetti meatballs? Tick. Garlic bread? Tick. Minestrone soup? Tick.

Previous
Amelia Birch at Famelia wine bar in . and owner Amelia Birch. 

Cosy Newtown wine bar-bottle shop Famelia takes flight with fun wine-tasting nights

Sommelier Amelia Birch is pouring a weekly rotation of wine flights, showcasing small-batch, female-led winemakers.

See all stories

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up
Bianca HrovatBianca HrovatBianca is Good Food's Sydney-based reporter.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/sydney-eating-out/aperitivo-hour-vodka-pasta-and-70s-brooklyn-vibes-at-new-northern-beaches-pizza-joint-pocket-pizza-20230707-p5dmmq.html